Keep an eye on the mailbox, as the May issue of the alumni magazine will be arriving soon. In this issue of Illinois State you will find the following features:

For the better part of the 1970s, Illinois State’s Quad was the site of an annual, daylong music festival called Rites of Spring. What started as a peaceful and relaxing celebration to mark the end of a school year in 1972 turned into a day of chaos, drugs, and danger by 1977. That was the final year for an event that started as a bold innovation and become a cherished tradition still fondly remembered by many alumni.

Louise Cainkar ’76 has spent her life trying to bring awareness to social injustice and to put a stop to racism. Using her expertise in Arab and Muslim American studies, she strives to educate and bring about change in this country and around the world.

Turner Hall is home to a lab of robots designed to aid in the education and real world experience of Illinois State’s technology majors. Students are able to use the lab created with Caterpillar’s support to design and build, while gaining a competitive advantage above others entering the workforce.